Saudi King dies at age 90
The country of Saudi Arabia has lost its monarch. King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz passed away in a Riydah hospital on Jan. 23, after complications involving a lung infection. The 90-year-old monarch was hospitalized for approximately two weeks due to pneumonia. However, King Abdullah has been in and out of hospital for the past few years due to his declining health.
Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, 79, was crowned as King Abdullah’s successor following his death on Jan. 23. King Salman served as Saudia Arabia’s Minister of Defence since Nov. 5, 2011. He was appointed Crown Prince on June 18, 2012, following the death of his brother, Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz.
King Salman declared his brother, Muqrin, as heir, while appointing Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Nayef as deputy crown prince. Mohammed bin Salman, King Salman’s son, was appointed as Saudi Arabia’s new Minister of Defence.
Under King Abdullah’s rule, Saudia Arabia maintained a close relationship with the United States and the United Kingdom, having bought billions of dollars’ worth of defence equipment from both parties. King Abdullah was also lauded for giving women the right to compete in the Olympics, while attempting to bring Saudi Arabia into a modern age embracing western ideology, while honouring Middle Eastern tradition.
The King of Saudi Arabia serves as the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques – al-Masjid al-Haram in Mecca and al-Masjid an-Nabawi in Medina. The Saudi King also acts as the head of the House of Saud.
Compiled by: Sameer Chhabra